Researchers crack malaria genome

A project to sequence the genome of Plasmodium falciparum — the most important malaria parasite — is almost finished.

The announcement marks the beginning of what appears to be shaping up as a milestone year for malaria research.

The genomes of a handful of other Plasmodium species could be complete before the end of 2002. And an international consortium plans to publish the genome sequence of the most important malaria mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, also this year.